Krups 203-42 Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder with Stainless-Steel blades, Black
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Krups 203-42 Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder with Stainless-Steel blades, Black
Customer Review: Quick n' Easy!
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this unit mainly for grinding dry spices. I used to grind them in a mortar and pestle which usually takes about 10-15 minutes with pain and agony, and that didn't even do the job. With this grinder, I load the spices in...boom, boom and boom - literally 3 pushes, I got beautiful spices ground to fine powder in about 7 SECONDS! The amazing thing about this grinder is that it doesn't use sharp blades, it's more like a propeller and I like it because it's safe contact with my fingers when being cleaned.
This is an incredible grinder at an unbeatable low price, I might as well buy another one to grind coffee beans (perhaps in black), I bought this model in white.
Pros:
*Light/Compact and does what it suppose to do
*Acceptable noise level (not as loud as expected)
*Stylish Design
*Best Value/Price
*Safe and sound, no sharp blades to deal with when cleaning.
Cons:
*Fine powder particles tend to stick to and under the propeller area which makes it a bit hard to clean (for this, I will buy a small brush to do the job).
*Grind button from cap which connects to body device seems a bit flimsy, not sure how long this will hold up.
*Power Cord is a bit short (apprx. 2 feet)
Customer Review: great for flax seeds and baby food!
Summary: 5 Stars
While I don't drink coffee, this grinder is great for grinding up those tiny flax seeds, and in seconds! Though, it can be a bit hard to clean since the blade, motor, encasing, etc are one unit and are not able to disassemble, therefore you can't just run it under water without risking damaging the motor. I would take another reviewer's advice and use a long handled stiff bristled brush to wipe out the leftover 'crumbs'.
*****UPDATE 2/17/11*****
I had a baby a year ago and make her own food, including cereal. This appliance is great for turning oatmeal, rice, and barley into powder!!! After use, I just run it under water to remove any residue left behind and place in my dish drainer to dry.
For cereal recipe: 1/2 cup grain, ground. Add to 2 cups boiling water on stove. Cook 10 min on low-med heat, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool. I usually add cinnamon to give it some flavor and freeze it in an ice cube tray. (Don't give powder to baby without cooking it--it is not easily digested otherwise.)
I have updated my rating (from 4 to 5 stars) to reflect that this machine is very versatile, easy to clean, compact, and works tremendously well!
Customer Review: If you like a fine grind, look no further
Summary: 4 Stars
I have had my grinder for 12 years now. It works the same today as it did new, and I use it about 10 times a week. For the money, it can't be beat. That said, this grinder is not for everybody.
This grinder is perfect for anybody with a coffee maker that uses #4 paper CONE filters (or slightly bigger or smaller). I emphasize PAPER because a permanent filter is not good for this grinder. Like any blade grinder, it will produce some dust. That creeps through the permafilter and into your pot is makes sludge. It sloppies up your coffee. Nothing gets through paper filters though.
It also grinds coffee fine. You really don't have a choice. It is ok for espresso as well if you are not a connoisseur. If you try a coarse grind with this unit, you will be out of luck. If you don't grind long enough, you will leave a few beans whole or in large pieces.
If you need anything other than a fine grind and don't mind using paper filters (I prefer them), then look no further.
I deducted a star because it has limitations, but the truth is, for probably 80% of the coffee drinkers out there, this grinder is all you need.
Customer Review: A Good Multi-Purpose Grinder
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a recirculating grinder that moves the partially-ground coffee beans back over the rotating knives. The longer you hold the button down, the finer the average size of the particles becomes. This is an excellent system for fine grinds of coffee intended for filter drip or Turkish-style pots. It also works well for grinding nuts and seeds for garnishes.
For the larger grind indicated for the coffee press, Bodum Chambord 4-Cup Coffee Pressthere are problems. By the time the average size is right, there's a lot of finely ground coffee produced and that tends to make the coffee press hard to operate.If you've graduated to the coffee press, it's probably time to get a more precise burr-grinder.
I have used the predecessor model to this grinder for about 20 years, so I think durability isn't an issue. The capacity is enough to make two generously sized strong portions of coffee.
--Lynn Hoffman, author of New Short Course in Wine,The and
the novel bang BANG: A Novel ISBN 9781601640005
Customer Review: Disapppointed with custormer service
Summary: 3 Stars
Bought an established brand. Got it quickly. First time out it made a lot of noise. Stopped it then started and then it exploded. Blade broken and marked tears in the chamber. It appears the blade was bent when I got it. The blade dug into the stainless steel chamber until it finally broke. I call Krups customer service. I understand an occaisional product can be bad but I expect the customer service to respond. Here is what happened. I was told that I had to take it to the service center - 90 minute drive. I refused (the item cost $20) then they told me to pack it up and send it the service center -- prob 45 minutes minimum if you include driving to the UPS center and then I had to pay the postage - prob $10. I viewed Krups as less than responsive to my problem. So I sent them an email noting that I would be happy if they would send me a new one and I would send the defective item back. I got a stock email back telling me to take it to the service center or send it in. So what did I do? I chucked the Krups and bought another grinder by another manufacturer... Last Krups product for me......